What is srp in dentistry?

However, SRP alone is not a magic bullet, (Source) and the necessity of an SRP is a clear indication that there is active periodontal disease, requiring regular periodontal maintenance, (typically every three months) to maintain the disease; (Source) think something between a deep cleaning and a regular cleaning. With shallow probing depths, (e.g. less than 4mm pockets), there is less measurable benefit to the procedure and it is considered unwarranted. However, the greater the initial probing depth, the more benefit the procedure provides. (Source) Smoking also has a negative impact on the success of deep cleanings (Source) and, as a whole, worsens periodontal disease.

Probably, but the degree to which they work is not fully established and the treatments tend to be expensive. (Source) These are a popular upsell for that reason. If you want to get everything you can out of your deep cleaning, it probably doesn't hurt, but it also may not offer as much benefit as you would like. The different adjunctive therapies would be an article of their own to do them justice. As it stands, there's no definitive 'yes' or 'no' to this question.

This is merely my opinion, but I think there are three main causes here.

First:

The term 'deep cleaning' is a bit of a disservice in that it likens an SRP to a regular cleaning, also called a prophylaxis. A deep cleaning is significantly more involved and used in far more specific situations than a typical dental cleaning.

Deep cleanings are coded and billed by quadrant of the mouth--basically, divide the mouth into four even sections--and typically cost $200 - $300 per quadrant. Typically one to two quadrants will be treated at a time, involves numbing the area to be worked on, similarly to a filling, and takes around forty-five minutes per quadrant to clean properly. Aside from the mechanical removal of calculus, the two have little in common.

Second:

Every list on the internet on 'what to watch out for at the dentist' call out deep cleanings as something to be wary of. It only takes a few minutes on Google to be left thinking that your dentist is trying to swindle you. With that said, yes, SRPs have been overused historically. We know they have been, and it's an extremely unfortunate situation.

There are clear diagnostic standards based on decades of research that provide guidelines for the use of the treatment, and it's extremely frustrating when that is not followed. SRPs have unfortunately become a staple of the unscrupulous and the large corporate dental offices out there that advertise a $39 exam, cleaning, and full mouth series of x-rays. We've written about this specific scenario before, and to once again caution our readers, you almost always will be taken advantage of by trying to take part in these 'deals'.

Third:

Arguably the largest reason, is that many insurance companies, in their never-ending quest to save a buck, do everything in their power to deny coverage. By denying coverage for some arbitrary reason, the cost burden is placed onto their customer, the patient.

When confronted, the insurance company will state that the procedure was not necessary despite never actually seeing the patient, while simultaneously trying to place blame on the dentist for allegedly performing unnecessary work. This scenario can be mitigated with excellent documentation and x-rays by your dentist, but it's still an unfortunate reality.

The easiest way to avoid the situation is to never need one in the first place through proper oral hygiene. I know, I know, that's not why you're reading this. Well, unfortunately, there's no real easy way as a patient to know when you do or don't need a deep cleaning. If you ever have any doubt, get a second opinion. I am always happy to offer patients free second opinions, and I am never offended if a patient of mine seeks one out elsewhere.

As mentioned previously, I would recommend avoiding shopping for a dentist like you do a couples massage or a whale watching trip on Groupon, as you will inevitably save yourself significantly in the long run. With those two covered, your dentist should be explaining your probing depths and x-rays to you. (If your dentist or hygienist didn't take probing depths or x-rays, your dentist absolutely should not be calling for an SRP, so that should be a clear sign) Your dentist should also be able to show your bone loss to you on an x-ray.

Scaling and Root Planing (SRP), which is commonly referred to as a deep cleaning or gum therapy, is the removal of plaque along with smoothing the roots of your teeth. And when patients who visit our office are diagnosed with gum disease, a deep cleaning is what we’ll recommend.

Some typical signs of gum disease that we most commonly see in the office are swollen and bleeding gums (especially while brushing), calculus near or below your gums, bad breath, and pain in your gums.

However, having one or many of these symptoms doesn’t mean that you can’t dramatically improve your oral health. Depending on the stage and severity of your condition, the deep cleaning you’ll receive at MFD – in combination with improved habits and oral hygiene that we’ll cover – can help you get back on the right path for your gums and teeth.

One of our two awesome hygienists (Ciera or Edith) will remove the bacteria from underneath your gums. Once this is done, your gums will have a higher likelihood of shrinking back to a healthier, more stable, state.

This will also help to reduce or eliminate the bleeding you experience while brushing, while at the same time improving your overall gum tissue health – which will ultimately help to keep all of your current teeth present and in the correct place.

Unfortunately, the SRP procedure does not automatically restore your gums back to their original and pristine condition. This treatment is made to preserve and improve the gum tissue that remains. And while we can’t go back to the ole’ days, keeping the tissue you have and building on new healthy habits can make a drastic improvement. Additionally, we’ll prevent the progression of your gum disease – which is nice.

Following the deep cleaning, it’s very important to implement great habits to keep your remaining gum tissue healthy. We recommend brushing twice a day (in the morning and before bed), flossing at least once per day, anti-bacterial mouth rinse at least once per day, and scheduling and showing up for your regular maintenance visits at MFD.

We love seeing patients in our office who’ve had a deep cleaning a few years ago, and because of regular brushing, flossing, rinsing, and maintenance visits, they’ve reached a consistent and lasting quality of health in their mouths. No more bleeding or puffy gums, bad breath, or invading bacteria.

These patients who have really bought into keeping their mouths healthy reap all the benefits, and they’re so inspiring to see on a regular basis.

All this to say that we’ll do our part in the office to get you reset, but once you leave – you take your oral health in your own hands. But don’t worry, we’ll arm you with all the tools and knowledge you’ll need to make that transition a breeze!

Following our assessment, we’ll use a few injections of anesthetic to numb your teeth and gums. Then we will use our water pressure tool to clean out the bacteria before doing our final assessment, and maybe taking some additional X-rays to make sure we’ve removed all of the bacteria.

Because this process can be overwhelming to some patients, we like to schedule half of the mouth (right or left side) for your first visit, and then the other side during a second visit.

During these appointments, we make sure to schedule plenty of extra time so that our hygienists aren’t rushed, which allows us to take every step to do the best job while making sure you are the most comfortable during your SRP.

We understand that some patients don’t like the idea of a needle in their mouths, but we’ve seen that the tiny prick you’ll receive at the beginning of your deep cleaning is well worth the 1.5 hours of comfort that you’ll have during your procedure.

Trust us – it’s the way to go.

You should still expect to see some bleeding and general soreness following the procedure. Because of the work that was done throughout your mouth and below your gums, this is common. This will subside a day or so after your procedure.

A unique feeling once the SRP is complete.

What do we mean?

Because the bacteria have built up over (in many cases) years below your gums, once that bacteria is gone, it’s common to feel like you have holes between your teeth or even cavities in them. Don’t worry – that’s not the case!

What’s true is that so much bacteria has been removed so that your gums can shrink back to a healthy size. Although the feeling is a “weird” one – it’s a great sign that you’ve just made tremendous progress.

Because we want to make sure the gums are healing and maintaining a better quality, we schedule our SRP patients 3-4 times per year rather than the typical 2. This way, we’ll be better able to monitor your health and you’ll get to participate in more of our monthly promotions and giveaways than just the typical 2 per year! Win-Win!

Scaling and root planing is the process of smoothing out the root surfaces of the teeth by removing hard calculus deposits and debris from below the gums. A licensed dental hygienist will perform the SRP using special hand instruments, an ultrasonic scaler, or a combination of both.